Chapter 172: A False Alarm

The "Hip-Hop After Work" live stream studio.

"Hello, listeners, welcome to 'Hip-Hop After Work,' I'm your good friend Xiao Yue'er."

"Today, we have an old friend joining our live stream—can you guess who it is..."

"Hip-Hop After Work" is a traffic radio program in Jingcheng.

Its scale and listening range are far inferior to provincial or municipal radio stations.

But as an old friend and early supporter of Cheng Chen—or someone who maintained good relations with Tianhai—it received a friendly response.

This visit to "Hip-Hop" is no exception, even though the new album release is less than three days away.

But Cheng Chen's coming is already a huge surprise for the station.

"That's right—he's the Heavenly King of the music industry, our old friend, Cheng Chen! Welcome everyone!"

Xiao Yue'er clapped her hands in the studio, putting on a welcoming gesture.

Today, this female host wore light makeup; her appearance leaned toward a sweet style.

When she smiled, two cute little tiger teeth showed; at 1.6 meters tall, she looked petite and dainty.

Especially her ample chest, which drew plenty of attention.

Seeing Cheng Chen again, Xiao Yue'er's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

When Cheng Chen first visited the station, he had only released one album: "Wolf Loves Sheep."

Back then, Cheng Chen was only mildly famous—now, of course, he was incomparable.

"Damn, Cheng Chen actually came to my favorite station—'Hip-Hop After Work' is awesome!"

"Come to think of it, wasn't Cheng Chen's last visit to the station the last time?"

"I remember Cheng Chen once saved a young man who wanted to jump off a building with a song on 'Hip-Hop After Work'..."

Commuters stuck in traffic, listening to the radio, felt deeply shocked and moved.

"Hello everyone, I'm also your old friend Cheng Chen—it's been a long time."

Cheng Chen said into the microphone.

"Let's have Teacher Cheng Chen wait a moment while we finish today's traffic report."

Cheng Chen's fans, don't hit me—hahaha, this is our show's main job after all."

"Also, good news: today's 'Hip-Hop After Work' will be delayed until 7:30 PM."

So everyone, don't rush—let Teacher Cheng Chen rest a bit until the full traffic report is done."

"Our traffic anchor will connect listeners with Teacher Cheng Chen for an interview—please tune in!"

As a traffic radio program, "Hip-Hop After Work" lasts only forty minutes per episode.

Twenty minutes are for traffic reports; the remaining twenty are for ads, Xiao Yue'er chatting with listeners, and taking listener calls.

Cheng Chen's visit to "Hip-Hop After Work" shocked the entire station.

The station manager personally met him and even proposed giving Cheng Chen the entire frequency for a special interview.

But Cheng Chen insisted on appearing on "Hip-Hop After Work," so the show's chief editor proposed extending the broadcast time until 7:30 PM.

Cheng Chen naturally agreed to this arrangement, since the station had helped him before he rose to fame.

"Damn, Cheng Chen really came—now the station's even delaying the broadcast! Can someone tell me the 'Hip-Hop After Work' hotline? I'm online waiting!"

"Guys, don't just hang around the forum—tune into FM XX. X to listen to 'Hip-Hop After Work'—there's a phone interview with the boss!"

"Help! I'm not from Jingcheng—how do people from other provinces listen? I really want to know how the boss is doing!"

"Is he healthy? Does he still kick off the covers at night? Does he eat properly? Ughhh!"

"Jingcheng locals are ecstatic—radio already on, little stool ready, waiting for the broadcast!"

Cheng Chen's blog comment section was also refreshing furiously.

Some even posted photos of Cheng Chen being welcomed at the TV station entrance.

Everyone in the Jingcheng region flooded toward the "Hip-Hop After Work" program.

Many who didn't own radios went to their cars to listen via car radios.

The "Hip-Hop After Work" live stream studio.

"That concludes today's traffic report,"

"We hope all drivers stay safe on the road."

"Teacher Cheng Chen, do you have any words of advice for our many drivers?"

Xiao Yue'er smiled and asked Cheng Chen.

Cheng Chen paused for a moment, then said:

"'Hip-Hop After Work' reminds you: a thousand roads exist, but safety comes first; if you drive carelessly, your loved ones will shed two streams of tears..."

Drivers listening to the live broadcast felt a chill run down their spines.

Traffic rules today were nowhere near as strict as in the future—even drunk driving was only added to the Criminal Law in 2011.

Drunk driving would be prosecuted as a criminal offense under the charge of dangerous driving.

Cheng Chen's words, though not rhyming, were deeply memorable.

Especially the phrase "two streams of tears from loved ones"—it evoked an odd, haunting feeling.

"Damn, Cheng Chen's line really hit home—I must drive properly, don't hurt yourself or others!"

"No wonder he's my guy—spontaneously poetic, awesome!"

"Guys, let's follow the boss's advice—drive safely from now on!"

Listeners beside their radios quickly typed their reflections onto the forum.

Cheng Chen's blog comment section had become the biggest gathering place for fans!

"Hehe, Teacher Cheng Chen's slogan is truly excellent—brilliant."

As Teacher Cheng Chen said, all drivers must drive their vehicles properly.

When Xiao Yue'er first heard Cheng Chen's words, she was momentarily stunned.

The more she savored those two sentences, the more she felt they carried a kind of magic that made them unforgettable!

It was brainwashing!

"Alright, all the listeners tuning in, I'm sure you're all eager by now."

Teacher Cheng Chen is sitting right beside me at this moment, but he has a little gift for everyone."

"Hey, you can't see Teacher Cheng Chen, but I can see him clearly—he's picking up a guitar."

"Hmm, today, right from the start, Teacher Cheng Chen is giving everyone one of the songs from his newly released album—please look forward to it~"

Xiao Yue'er's voice was warm, with a hint of coyness.

Many veteran drivers were her die-hard fans.

Just hearing her voice made you a die-hard.

"Duang~"

Cheng Chen brushed his pinky across the strings, adjusted the sound, then spoke into the microphone:

"You all surely know the name of this new album—it's called 'Starfire,' which is also the name of my company."

"I'm recommending it to you for the first time; the song I'll sing next is called 'Drinking Away Sorrow'…"

"When you walk into this place of joy, you carry all your dreams and desires."

"Faces painted in every hue, no one remembers your appearance…"

When Cheng Chen's voice emerged, every fan gathered around the radio fell silent.

As soon as he opened his mouth to sing, everyone was instantly drawn in by his narrative style of playing and his deep, resonant voice.

And they found resonance in the lyrics…

"One toast to the sunrise, one to the moonlight."

"Awakening my longing, softening the cold window."

"Thus I can fly against the wind without looking back."

"Not fearing rain in my heart, frost in my eyes."

"One toast to my hometown, one to the distance."

"Guarding my kindness, pushing me to grow."

"So the roads north and south are no longer endless; my soul has nowhere left to wander…"

After "Drinking Away Sorrow" ended, the livestream fell utterly silent for a long time.

On the other side of the radio, when the lyrics "One toast to hometown, one to the distance" were sung,

Everyone felt goosebumps rise on their skin, an indescribable emotion traveling from their brains to their heels.

This… this was too powerful!

The meaning expressed in this song resonated with nearly everyone.

This intense sense of resonance revealed, in every line, the agony of struggling through life.

Under the guise of toasting, it honored the bumps and bruises along the road of Renshen.

These experiences allowed us to grow, though the process was painful, it was precious.

Nine out of ten things in Renshen go against our wishes; many wander and struggle within them.

The hard part is that we still manage to gather our spirits again, face it, challenge it, even transcend it.

Just as the lyrics say: "One toast to freedom, one to death—forgive my ordinariness, dispelling my confusion."

This is a song that makes you fall silent, think deeply, feel moved, and gain insight.

"Holy shit! I declare this the anthem of the year! It's singing straight into my soul!"

"'Drinking Away Sorrow' says drinking eases sorrow, but sorrow grows deeper—just a drunken stupor, and the soberest are the most absurd. Written so well!"

"Honestly, when I heard this song, I cried. I thought back on all these years of struggle."

"I was once overlooked in places of joy, once lost, confused, and uncertain—I saw myself in these lyrics, so real!"

"I only drink to get drunk, then throw up—but I never imagined someone could write a song about drinking, and write it this beautifully."

"Just listening makes me cry. Cheng Chen is truly Cheng Chen—no wonder he's the Heavenly King of the Mainland!"

Right after "Drinking Away Sorrow" ended, the comment section of Cheng Chen's personal blog was flooded again, and at the same time, the radio station's backend phone lines were overwhelmed!

The director kept signaling Xiao Yue'er; having just emerged from her emotional state, her eyes were red, her voice slightly hoarse:

"That was a beautiful song. I think everyone can see themselves in it—I'm no exception."

"The director keeps telling me many enthusiastic listeners are calling our backend—we'll connect with one."

"Hello, listener, this is 'Hip-Hop After Work,' I'm host Xiao Yue'er."

"Hello, can you hear me?"

"Hello…"

Xiao Yue'er asked several times, but the caller still gave no reply.

Just as Xiao Yue'er thought the caller had dialed wrong and signaled the director to hang up, the caller suddenly spoke:

"Hello, Xiao Yue'er, and hello, Teacher Cheng Chen—I'm the guy who tried to jump off the building last time you saved me."

Just those few words instantly brought Xiao Yue'er back to that terrifying moment.

The atmosphere in the control room dropped instantly; everyone remembered the fear dominated by the "suicide boy."

"No way! He's back again—does he want to jump again?!"

"Poor Boss—every time he comes to this station, something crazy happens. I suggest he stay far away from this station from now on!"

"I also feel something's off—Xiao Yue'er kept asking him, and he didn't answer. He sounded low, not right—could he be planning another stupid act again?!"

As netizens had guessed, even the leaders watching the live stream now broke out in cold sweats.

It's currently peak broadcast hours, and with Cheng Chen suddenly appearing in the live room, their channel instantly went viral.

If anything unexpected happened now, it would be a fatal blow to them.

"This, this gentleman, I remember you—you called in this time to…"

Xiao Yue'er asked tentatively.

"Hehe, don't worry—I won't do anything foolish this time.

Since Teacher Cheng Chen guided me last time, I won't do things that hurt myself anymore.

I just wanted to express my thanks to Teacher Cheng Chen."

"Huh~"

Hearing the boy's words, Xiao Yue'er immediately sighed in relief.

"Hehe, Teacher Cheng Chen is sitting right beside me right now—whatever you want to say to him, he can hear it."

"Really? I, I, Teacher Cheng Chen, I…"

The boy's tone instantly became excited.

"I'm here. Don't be nervous or excited—speak, I'm listening."

Cheng Chen said gently.

Hearing Cheng Chen's reassurance, the boy's tone gradually calmed down and said:

"I'm deeply grateful for your guidance last time—I truly, truly appreciate you. Even though she left me.

But I've come to terms with it—I can live well without her, at least not as painfully as before."

"Partings and reunions all have their time; wind and rain have never bowed to man. Just let go."

Cheng Chen said slowly.

"Yes, Teacher Cheng Chen, you're right—I'm truly, truly grateful to you!"

The boy said sincerely.

Cheng Chen fell silent for a moment, then said:

"On this new album, there's a song I want to sing for you—it's called 'Boy'!"

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, the boy suddenly grew excited and exclaimed:

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Cheng Chen!"

"Once by accident, he and she fell in love

In an era that never hesitated.

Believing they understood, so they loved without restraint.

Two hands clasped tightly, never letting go…"

……

"I can't forget your love, but the ending can't be changed.

I couldn't keep you, and I couldn't give you the future he could.

A childish boy…"

After Cheng Chen finished singing, a faint sound of the boy sobbing came from the other end of the live stream.

Cheng Chen spoke up:

"As the lyrics say, 'All regrets are not the future.' I hope you can fully let go of the past.

Make peace with it—because your regrets are not your future!"

"Wu-wu-wu, okay, I, I remember—I thank you, thank you, Teacher Cheng Chen, I understand!"

This song wove together memories of the past, entanglement, helplessness, and irony, leaving one breathless.

Yet beyond that, passion and Zhi Zhuo surged forth with Cheng Chen's voice.

Against a cool-toned backdrop, this unreserved sincerity stood out even more.

The childish boy, carrying a pure love, screamed out from the mire.

Helpless, yet resolute; trapped in hardship, yet still wild and unrestrained.

……

During this appearance on "Hip-Hop After Work," Cheng Chen performed five songs and connected live with over a dozen fans.

Many fans asked Cheng Chen to host more events like this—they desperately wanted such close communication with Cheng Chen.

"Dear listeners, this episode of 'Hip-Hop After Work' is now coming to an end.

Don't forget to support Teacher Cheng Chen's new album, 'Starfire'—remember the release date.

August 2nd, the day after tomorrow—please support it!"

……